Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has revealed he held discussions with Sir Alex Ferguson over a transfer to Manchester United in 2012.
The Polish was regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford while at Borussia Dortmund, where Robert spent four trophy-laden seasons.
However, a transfer failed to materialise and he instead signed for Dortmund's domestic rivals Bayern on a free transfer six years ago.
Lewandowski has scored an incredible 266 goals in 307 matches for Bayern and was the leading scorer in each of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UCL last term as the Bavarian heavyweights won a stunning treble.
He was recognised for his stunning form over the past year as The Best FIFA Men's Player for 2020, but his professional career could have gone down a different route had Die Borussen not blocked a PL switch, he says.
"After my second year in Dortmund, I had a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson," Robert told France Football.
"He wanted me to come to Manchester. I was very interested. I can even say I was ready.
"But Dortmund didn't want to let me go. It didn't upset me more than that because things were going well with Borussia."
Ferguson instead brought in Robin van Persie from Arsenal ahead of the 2012-13 term and he helped fire United to the PL title in the legendary manager's final season.
Robertarguably made the correct decision as the Red Devils regressed after winning the PL crown in the 2021-13 season – Ferguson's final year in charge of the Old Trafford heavyweights.
At Bayern, the 32-year-old attacker has won six Bundesliga titles and got his hands on European football's top prize when the club got the better of Paris Saint-Germain to win the UCL.